City of Calgary

Please support the bow river fishery

Bow River Trout Foundation is planning to raise an estimated amount of $67,000 this year on fundraising campaigns. It will cost our organization $32,000 to raise this for a net return of $35,000. The money raised will be going to our commitment to improve two river access boat ramps on the Bow River. For further information, please contact Peter Crowe-Swords at 403-680-8320. Our address is 3608 Beaver Road N.W., Calgary, AB, T2L 1X1 and we are incorporated in Alberta.

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Barry White has been a Bow River fly fishing outfitter for 35 years. His years of fishing the Bow River along with an insight into the many visitors, guides and local fishing celebrities that have experienced the Blue Ribbon Bow fishery has made ” My Bow River” a compelling read.

Meet Barry White at the BRT Blue Ribbon Bow Dinner on February 21, 2018 at the Calgary Petroleum Club. at a 5:00 PM reception and dinner at 6:30 PM. ” My Bow River”will be available at a cost of $25.00

Ross Purnell , Editor of Fly Fisherman Magazine will be the dinner’s keynote speaker. And with a silent auction consisting of in excess of $48,000 of art work and fishing supplies, the evening promises to be an enjoyable event.

Although it is possible for the entire Bow River to be accessed by foot, river boat use is restricted by boat ramp access. Within Calgary, the city’s River Access Strategyhas addressed the public access boat ramp issue with new boat ramps scheduled for Inglewood and Ogden Bridge, an upgrade at West Baker Park and Harvie Passage the fishing community will have boat access to the entire city reach of the Bow River.

Below Calgary, The Government of Alberta has developed 5 public boat access ramps all of which were devastated by the 2013 flood. Remediation of boat ramps has taken place, but further improvements are needed.

Alberta Environment and Parks commissioned The Bow River Access Plan to identify access site needs, engaged with the general public and stakeholder groups to develop a timeline for improvements. It is understood that improvements will be made to McKinnon’s Flats and Johnson’s Island.Fish Creek Provincial Park meets immediate needs and Legacy Island will be maintained within the terms of the TU – Bow River Chapter lease agreement.What is unclear is the future of Policeman’s Flats. Discussions are ongoing for a replacement site less vulnerable to flooding but no definitive decision is expected for two or more years.

A Proposal for Short-Term Improvements to Policeman’s Flats:

Bow River Trout Foundation with a mandate to advocate and support for the Bow River fishery puts us in a position where we can contribute to river access improvements and new site developments. We appreciate that until the final Bow River Access Planis approved and released to the public, it will be difficult to engage with what stakeholder contributions and support would be appropriate discussion points.
Furthermore, no decisions on a new site development to replace Policeman’s Flats are expected for two or more years. This would indicate that Policeman’s Flats will continue to be one of the major river access points on the Bow River for the foreseeable future.

Bow River Trout’s position that is shared by other river user organizations, river guides, outfitters and the fishing community at large is that the current disposition of Policeman’s Flats is unacceptable as a safe boat launch and takeout point. We appreciate that to totally redevelop the site is problematic given the ownership questions, suitability of further development and new site development at better sites.

Therefore, Bow River Trout Foundation has made a commitment of $5,000 to kick start the revitalization of Policeman’s Flats. The three phase development will see rocks removed that interfere with river access, a clean up and grading of the parking area and possibly an amenities module with a total cost $ 37,525. Grant applications and fundraising activities will contribute a considerable amount of the funding needed to complete the project before the fall of 2018.

Your support by way of BRT membership or a donation will assist with the development. Go to the following link to support our initiates:

In Addition a Signage & Education Program was to be rolled out to inform the public of river access use.

Calgary Parks has recently released the River Access Updatethat details the progress made to date. The fishing community will benefit from public trailers boat access at West Baker Park once Harvie Passage to opened to the public in June 2018. But unfortunately the new boat ramps at Inglewood and Ogden Bridge will not be completed until 2019 at the earliest. Without a public boat ramp in the general vicinity of Harvie Passage, a float fishing trip from West Baker Park to Graves Bridge is the only option.

Bow River Trout Foundation has made a proposal to Councillor Carra who has been supportive of both the River Access Strategy and Harvie Passage development to consider public access to a new boat ramp built into the Low Water Channel of Harvie Passage. The proposal A Boat Ramp to Nowhere would see a new roadway from the Bow Habitat parking lot in Pearce Estate Park to the rivers edge. This development would not only give trailered boat access to the river, but also improve the paddle communities accessibility to Harvie Passage.

The Bow River Trout Foundation – Blue Ribbon Bow Dinnerwill be held at The Calgary Petroleum Club on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 . The event will focus on:

” A Celebration of the Bow River Fishery”

The evening will open with a display of Paul Rasporich paintings, silent auction items and a cash bar at 5:00 pm. A full list of merchandise can be found at the following link. BRT Silent Auction Merchandise

A three-course dinner will be served at 6:30 pm consisting of a salad, a choice the main plate and desserts with coffee or tea.

At the conclusion of dinner service, Peter Crowe-Swords, President, Bow River Trout Foundationwill outline BRT accomplishments and future plans, followed by the introduction of our keynote speaker Ross Purnell by local fly fishing celebrity, Jim McLennan.

Ross Purnell, Editor, Fly Fisherman Magazinebrings a unique perspective to the audience. Born and raised in Calgary, Ross started his love of fishing on the banks of the Bow River. His journalist career has taken him around the world to many great sport fisheries. We will receive a picture of how the Blue Ribbon Bow fits into world class fisheries.

The evening will conclude with the announcement of the silent auctions successful bid.